Friendship is Hunted: Killing with Kindness

Story by MichaelGrey on SoFurry

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#9 of Friendship is Hunted

Now we see Fluttershy attempting to find a way to defeat the Huntsman, but in a more unorthodox fashion. Can she reach him on an emotional level? Is there an even bigger threat to contend with?


When it came to Fluttershy, her gentle demeanor and tender nature were true credits to her species. Everyone was always amazed at how sweet she was. She was compassionate, wise, understanding, softspoken, down-to-earth. A nice girl. A wonderful specimen of pony.

It was this sort of attitude that was going to have her take the lead in facing the Huntsman. She believed that she could reach him. Essentially talk him down.

Naturally, her friends all thought, as nice as Fluttershy was, this was

PURE INSANITY.

"My dear, he will literally eat you alive!" Rarity had proclaimed.

"This is a JOKE, right?" Pinkie inquired.

"Fluttershy, you'll get killed!" Rainbow Dash had insisted.

"Honey, I don't think y'all thinkin' right." Appleack had murmured.

"Look, please, think about this, Fluttershy." Twilight began to say...

Fluttershy silencing them all, holding a hoof up in the air, her voice firm and authoritative. "No." She insisted. "No means no. I know what I am doing." She told them all with a calm nod. "You need to trust me, please."

"It's just..." Twilight paced back and forth in the castle in the center of Ponyville, soft light floating through the windows to cascade over their nervous forms, the ponies of the town looking amongst each other. "Fluttershy, the Huntsman might suffer from survivor's guilt, but I honestly don't think he can just be talked down."

"I was able to reach Discord, Twilight." Fluttershy spoke calmly, putting a hoof on her chest and shaking her head back and forth, pink mane flopping about. "I know it might seem a little...crazy. But even though everyone's got a hard chocolate shell, deep down there's always a nice, creamy center."

"Some people are hard inside AND out." Spike remarked, the little dragon cringing as he rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his crested head back and forth.

"So they're more nougat on the inside?" Pinkie mused aloud, rubbing her chin as Fluttershy giggled at this, Applejack's face turning solemn and dark.

"Fluttershy, ponies ain't chocolates. Y'know what a lot of 'em are, pardon my language? BASTARDS. Bastard-coated bastards with bastard fillin'."

Fluttershy smiled slightly, trotting over to Applejack and putting a hoof on Applejack's chest. "I'm a-touchin' your creamy center!" She giggled before hooving it out of the room and down the stairway, heading for Ponyville to meet the Huntsman at the diner as everyone peeked outside of the windows. They all watched her make her way down the street, heading for the diner as Twilight nervously bit her lip.

"Twilight, do you really think she'lldo it?" Spike asked of her, eyes slightly wide.

"I...don't know." She admitted. "I think she CAN. But...I don't know if she WILL. It really depends on him...on how good he is deep down. I'm not taking any chances." She said, turning around and giving everyone a nod. "We've got to alert the Princesses immediately. Spike, take a letter."

Spike whipped out a pad of parchment and a quill, immediately nodding and giving a salute. "YES, your majesty!" He proclaimed.

...

...

...

...the Huntsman was, oddly enough, quite receptive to the idea of a nice, calm trip out to the nearby forest that Fluttershy frequented so frequently. He enjoyed the soft feel of the wind on his face, and listening to Fluttershy's lilting voice as he walked alongside her, using his spear/staff as a walking stick, Fluttershy having several animals sitting atop her. Mr. Bluebird on her shoulder, a squirrel on her back, a spider on her nose-

"You're not...freaked out by spiders?" The Huntsman inquired, looking slightly confused as Fluttershy carefully shook her head.

"Oh deary, no. They're quite harmless here. Every animal in this forest is just a real sweetheart when you get to know them." She insisted tenderly, waving a hoof in the air as the Spider hopped off the top of her nostrils and onto a nearby web, a few deers walking along the treeline to their right. Soft sunlight filtered down through the forest canopy like a patchwork quilt as the deers bowed their heads at Fluttershy, who bowed respectfully in return. "Psst! Bow!" She whispered back, the Huntsman doing the same as the deer repeated the bow to him, trotting off down the forest trail.

"How...unusual." He murmured. "They all hold the greatest of respect for you. Pray tell, how did you manage that?"

"I've cared for all of them at some point or another." Fluttershy admitted, the squirrel atop her back bounding off as Mr. Bluebird chirped in agreement, fluttering around her head as she and the Huntsman continued down the natural forest path. "Brought them soup when they were cold, took them into my home when they had nowhere else to stay, I've patched their wounds, sung to them, told them stories about a one-eyed pony captain of the Wonderbolts!"

"Fascinating!" The alien hunter admitted with a nod, Fluttershy leading him to a large, open clearing, a bear setting down a picnic basket and a blanket for them to lay upon, Fluttershy appreciatively smiling at him.

"Thank you, Yogi. You can go, now. I'll be fine." She crooned, the bear nodding back as he lumbered off, the Huntsman sitting himself down on the red-and-white picnic blanket, Fluttershy pulling out several jars of peanut butter, honey and jelly before pulling out several rolls of bread and some chocolate-covered peanuts in a large jar. "Do you enjoy PB&J?"

"I'm a purist, I prefer plain peanut butter." He admitted with a shrug, Fluttershy getting a knife out and spreading some peanut butter on a sliced roll, handing the sandwich to him before pulling out a small bottle of sparkling cider. "Oh my."

"The finest I've got from home. I was saving it for a special occasion, and...well, I think this qualifies, don't you?" Fluttershy told the Huntsman as she also pulled out a few glasses from the picnic basket. "Say when?" She remarked, pouring him a glass as he chuckled a bit.

"Aren't you the charmer?" He intoned, electric blue eyes looking over the glass as the contents slid smoothly out from the bottle. "Right there is fine, Fluttershy. You're quite considerate."

"I wanted to talk to you." She admitted as he swallowed the sandwich in a single bite, holding the glass up to his lips and taking careful sips. "I don't think you're truly a bad person at all. I know you need to eat sentient beings for the...you said "tantric energy"?"

"Yes, only sentient beings give it off, and my race needs it to sustain ourselves, to fight off entropy." He sighed wistfully, slightly swishing the sparkling cider around in his cup. "...sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I'd never been a Cosmo Sapien."

"Could you...tell me about your species? I mean, what they were like when they weren't hunting?" Fluttershy asked as she wrapped her front legs around her others, sitting on her butt, head tilted slightly to the side as the Huntsman sipped more sparkling cider.

"Ah, well..." He blushed a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. "My species was very, VERY into flute music. Wind instruments and drums. Our art was of materials compressed into precious gems and honed into things like...well, like these." He said, pointing at the necklace he wore, fingering it with his claws. "Our technology also centered around tantric energy...it powered our homes, gave us warmth in the colder months and cold in the warmer months."

He held up a single digit, focusing intensely as a single particle of pale blue light focused, and he began carving and swirling the claw digit in the air, forming a small picture of Fluttershy herself, which he blew towards her. It stopped in front of her as she held her hooves up to catch it, and she felt the soft hum of the picture as she clasped it tightly. It throbbed in her grip like a little hummingbird, a gentle warmth emanating from it before the Huntsman raised his hand, the energy sweeping back over to his palm, sinking into it.

"Wowwww..." She whispered.

"That was one way we enjoyed ourselves when we weren't in the thrill of the hunt. The second greatest way we had fun was a game of role-playing." He admitted. "We called it "Hunters and Humans"."

"Humans?" Fluttershy murmured, tilting her head slightly to the side in confusion as the Cosmo Sapien chuckled some more.

"Right, you don't know of them, do you? My species is actually DESCENDED from the species Homo Sapiens. We're technically in the same family tree. Our origin is that the species known as humans crossed into this dimension and in doing so, became beings of pure energy that swept through the realms, assimilating and becoming entire planets and stars, and then, in time, galaxies!" He remarked, putting a hand on his chest and beaming proudly. "Just imagine. One day PONIES might become beings of pure magic. Maybe one day your ancestor will be a galaxy. It could happen. And one day you might even meet the humans of YOUR dimension."

"You've met with actual humans? Non-celestial ones?" Fluttershy asked, looking interested. "What do they look like?"

The Huntsman rubbed his chin, then snapped his fingers. "I've got it. Remember when you were in my belly before, and you could feel the souls of those I've taken into me comforting you, calming you? I could show you humans I've taken in. It'll take a bit more effort to get them more physically visible, and it would mean swallowing you once more, but I swear I shan't hurt you."

Fluttershy nodded her head. "I know you won't hurt me." She told him. "I know you're a decent person."

He smiled sweetly at this, lifting her up and kissing her atop the forehead. "I adored how you tasted. It was like a lovely vanilla milkshake...and now I get to enjoy you again." He informed Fluttershy, mouth opening wide, the black expanse of his maw widening, his breath warm and heavy on her face as he engulfed her head with his mouth. His jaws worked their way over her head as he swallowed, sending it down to his throat in a powerful gulp.

Fluttershy was surprised at how strong his throat muscles were, how easily she was being sent down. With another swallow her head was now going deeper into his throat, her chest now up against his tongue as he slightly licked at it in a circle, tickling her slightly. After some gentle teasing, his light blue tongue gave her a final lick before another gulp sent her chest down to his cavenous throat, his throat muscles beginning to push her body deeper into him, massaging every bit of her form. It was...oddly pleasant, like an unusual therapy, Fluttershy thought to herself, now her private parts reaching his mouth. And, she hated to admit it, she had been...aroused by his presence. She was truly becoming attracted to him, and his gentleness even in this rather dark deed was touching to her.

It was just too tempting for the Huntsman under normal circumstances NOT to do this to his prey, but he didn't want to violate Fluttershy in any fashion, so he rubbed the space where her head was in his chest region. "Do you mind?" He asked, mouth half full of her.

"No...go ahead, I...I think I'd like it." She admitted as the Huntsman smiled broadly at this permission, his tongue now happily licking every part of the body he was eating, tasting her delicious clit. Her pussy juices flowed freely as he explored her inner slit, carefully working through it like a snake with his tongue, Fluttershy's deep, adoring moans indicating she was enjoying it too. She gave off a powerful orgasm, her cry filling his throat as he sighed wistfully, giving another swallow which made the pony's lower legs into him. Now her head was reaching the stomach, his throat still pushing her inside, her hooves of her back legs the only visible part of her and after a little more licking the alien finally swallowed THEM down. Her chest, her legs, and finally her hooves joined her in his tummy, his soft stomach walls massaging her body as she felt him rub his gut from outside.

"Ohhh. So filling, so sweet...you taste divine, Fluttershy. But I have a promise to keep, so...take a look at Alice. She was the first human friend I ever really had."

Fluttershy felt one of the soft spectral presences harden more. What had been only just-barely visible was now quite easy to see...a bipedal, hairless...well, "ape", essentially. Hair atop their head like a "mane" on a pony, two eyes, a nose, a pair of lips, and mammaries on her chest like other mammals had. She smiled, nervously rubbing the back of her neck as a pair of clothes appeared on her, a plain shirt with jeans.

"Sorry, forgot I was naked." She admitted. "You picked a nice spot to talk."

"It's in the WOODS. How...droll." Blueblood's voice mumbled as Fluttershy "EEPED" and hopped up slightly in midair, gasping in surprise.

"B-Blueblood?!" She exclaimed, gaping in surprise as Blueblood cringed, now visible alongside Alice. "Your...spirit's here?"

"Yes, I'm now one with the Huntsman. He knows all of my memories...my hopes, my dreams. I see through his eyes now. I feel every physical sensation he does, just like all the others do. And because he didn't force me to be trapped to one area, I'm not stuck as just belly fat or...some other loathe place." He cringed. "I could be on his BEHIND...truly he's most merciful."

"I'll take it." The Huntsman's voice intoned from all around Fluttershy as the walls of his belly continued to pump about her, Fluttershy sinking into the soft flesh, enjoying the pleasant rhythmic sensations. "Forced sincerity is better than none at all."

"The Huntsman visited my home planet as part of a "Macro" hunting party." Alice admitted with a cringe. "They were awful people that went from planet to planet crushing EVERYTHING and EVERYONE for...well, for FUN, really. And because they were hungry." She shuddered in horror, wrapping her arms around herself and cringing, body becoming pale. "They towered over everything like skyscrapers, as big as mountains. He found a way to destroy them all and save the survivors of my planet...all children. We grew up having him as a protector for a century and learning what we needed to stay strong."

"Then why'd he eat you?" Fluttershy asked, confused. "I take it you were one of those children?"

"I...wanted him to eat me." Alice admitted. "I know it sounds weird. I know it sounds STRANGE. But...the more time I spent with him, the more I found myself...comforted by his embrace. Every year I got older, I'd talk with him, watch drive-in films with him, we'd go fishing, see the sights of my world and...I realized I wanted to be with him. I was..." Alice shuddered erotically, wrapping her arms around herself. "...attracted to the idea of being inside him, as...part of him. It felt so safe, so natural. I know it's hard to explain but...I felt it was the ultimate expression of trust and love."

"I can understand." Fluttershy admitted gently, giving Alice a soft hug as Alice inhaled Fluttershy's scent.

"Mmm. Your mane smells like strawberries..." She murmured.

"It DOES, doesn't it?" The Huntsman admitted with clear and obvious pride in his voice. "Would you like to take a nap?" He asked of Fluttershy, who nodded and snuggled up against his stomach walls, murring in delight.

"Yes, I'm...kinda tired. I think I wanna just rest my eyelids." She murmured out, sleep beginning to set in as the Huntsman smiled, rubbing his bulging belly from the outside, enjoying the pleasant sensation of fullness and the soft, up-and-down sensation of Fluttershy's body breathing in her sleep.

"Let's leave the lady be and let her get some rest." Alicia informed Blueblood and the other spectral souls within the Huntsman's form, as the area became a dark, large expanse of nothingness, Fluttershy being welcomed into the embrace of the space between spaces...

The Huntsman stiffening as he suddenly felt a shift in the wind. He frowned darkly, turning his head, seeing forms shifting, moving out from the woods, out of the shadows. They stepped into the light, the Changeling army standing tall and proud and-

What was Chrysalis wearing around her neck? It looked like a red jewel in the center of an upside-down triang,e with pony wings fluttering out from the sides, an a unicorn head at the very top. "You like? This...is the Alicorn Amulet. Oh, how I DREEEAAAMED of one day possessing something this powerful." Chrysalis admitted with a dark grin, sneering like some sick, foul thing that the Heavens had meant to leave under a rock. "Luckily for me that foolish zebra had it in her home! We stumbled on it running away from YOU. I suppose I should thank you..." Chrysalis mused, rubbing her chin as a foul, red miasma filled the air around her and the Huntsman's eyes narrowed. "...but it would be more fun to kill you."

The Huntsman ducked just in time, an ENORMOUS blast of burning, harsh red energy striking where he'd been only moments ago, the muscular hunter rolling smoothly across the soft grass of the clearing. Queen Chrysalis cackled like a hyena, head thrown back, laughing uproariously as she fired again and again. The Huntsman took off running, barreling as fast as he could, the Changelings pouring after him as Queen Chrysalis fired again in his direction, the Huntsman ducking to avoid her shot.

"You have as awful aim as you do taste in JEWELRY!" He roared back, his voice carrying through the forest before he found himself quickly approaching the mountainside. Well, this was problematic. He cringed, leaping up in the air, clawed grip holding onto the side of the mountain as he climbed up as fast as he could, the hissing snarls of Changelings hot on his heels. Luckily for him, there was a cave some distance above him, and he was soon crawling inside, diving deep into its dark recesses, hiding behind a large stalagmite.

He took in a deep breath, keeping still, scrunched up so the Changelings passing by couldn't see him as they glanced about.

"Hmm...no, not in here." The leader of the small group peeking inside remarked, his comrades nodding as they soared up, past the cave, the Huntsman wiping his brow, thankful the Changelings lacked in brains what they made up in numbers.

He COULD, probably, destroy them. But it was Chrysalis that was the problem. Her...and keeping Fluttershy safe. That...would be tricky...

...

...

...

...

The Huntsman and Fluttershy sat in the cave, the Huntsman carefully blocking off the entrance with chunks of earth and rock he was using, leaving JUST enough cracks for them to breathe and him to peek through as Fluttershy knocked two rocks against each other, starting up a fire. Luckily there were quite a few roots they could use as tinder for the flames, and the two were soon sitting around Fluttershy's accomplishment as she looked up at her alien opponent/friend...and perhaps more than that.

"If you don't mind me asking...why don't you just pull out something from your body? You're a living universe. Why not just take food or something you want from inside?"

"It has to be nonorganic, I can't just snatch up people off the streets. And even then it takes quite a lot of effort to focus in on the one thing I need. I have to, after all, comb through entire galaxies, planets, zero in on countries. By the time it would take me to find just any old tree, hours would have passed. It helps if any follower I might have on the planets within have given me burnt offerings or the like..." The Huntsman admitted.

"You have...followers? Like a cult?" Fluttershy asked as the Huntsman nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Er, more like a religion. They have traditions, ceremonies, a holy text, give to charities, ask people to attend their place of worship one day a week..." The Huntsman murmured, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. "The problem is they send me STRAAANGE things. They're very inclusive, anyone can join, but because of that there's no standards for what works as an offering. I've got an entire planet now I've stuffed with POGS because I've had ten thousand children every single year burning them as an offering to me. What am I going to do with pogs? PLAY with them? NOBODY likes pogs!"

"It could be worse. They could offer up something nasty." Fluttershy reasoned.

"They did. It was called "Ms. Henson's Surprise". The surprise was that this was ONE Henson production I COULDN'T swallow." The Huntsman muttered as he folded his arms over his chest, shaking his horned head back and forth. "I thought I'd be more uncomfortable being worshipped, but they see me as where all things flow from and that's technically true, so...can I really object to something about me that's factually accurate?"

"If it makes them happy and does good, then that's a good thing. But if it makes you uncomfortable, you need to have them understand that no means no." Fluttershy offered, waving a hoof in the air.

"Yes, but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. My right to not be put off and weirded out shouldn't outweigh the great good they do in my name." The Huntsman admitted. "It isn't like they offer up virgins. Though I've had other planets I've visited do that." He added quietly. "Some of them even fell in love with me."

"Speaking of...well...virgins and love, um...that is..." Fluttershy murmured. "I know we feel more like CELLMATES than SOULMATES right now, but there's something I want to tell you." She admitted, reaching out and taking his hands, moving over his claws as she looked deep into his eyes, blinking slowly. "I saw into your heart when we spoke...and when I was with you in that deep way, when you took me into you. I know, deep down, you're a kind person. That you don't want to hurt anyone."

The Huntsman shamefully glanced to the side, biting into his lip, pale blue eyes glancing back at Fluttershy. "...I've killed many, Fluttershy. Swallowed entire worlds. Maybe, considering all the people I will continue to have to take into me...the kindest thing to do, the greatest, most compassionate thing would be to end my life." He admitted.

"Suicide is a horrible, terrible thing." Fluttershy insisted fervently, shaking her head back and forth, pink hair flopping about. "The ultimate act of despair. You can't EVER give in to that sadness." She protested, the Huntsman slowly turning to look her full in the face, her tone firm, persuasive and loving. "Every day you get to spend alive is a day for new and wonderful things to happen. And a day you can share with others."

"That's a very optimistic view of the world." The Huntsman admitted. "...I like it." He added, holding a hand to his chest, taking in a few deep breaths before letting out a belch, a few cups flying out along with a bottle, which he managed to catch. "AH! Finally, a decent offering. Haven't had this in quite some time. Illithid Wine."

"Wine? I've not really had much wine. Is it...good?"

"It's got a lovely apple-esque flavor."

"Oooooh." Fluttershy murmured, the Huntsman popping open the bottle and pouring her and himself some of the tasty liquid, the two clanking the cups together. "So, these "IIllithid"s? What are they like?" Fluttershy asked, the Huntsman tilting his head slightly to the side.

"Brain-eaters. Heads like that of a squid. Body similar in structure to my own, but...lean. And very mean. Did I mention they eat BRAINS?" He added, cringing. "They worship me quite a lot. Haven't sacrificed anyone yet. I tried to make THAT rule as clear as I could through sending some of the souls within me down to the planets that tried it. What they do enjoy sending me is alcohol. They adore the stuff." The Huntsman chuckled. "And once you taste it, you'll see why. To you, Fluttershy."

He held his cup up high, Fluttershy holding hers up as well. "What's your name? Your real name?"

"Neh-Buh-Loh." The alien hunter admitted with a small nod as Fluttershy spelled the words out.

"Neh-Buh-Loh. I like it. It's musical." She murmured softly, sipping the tasty, warm, slightly fuzzy-on-her-lips wine, a pleasant feeling rising in her...

A FEW MINUTES LATER...

"ALL WE WANNA DO IS EAT YOUR BRAINS!" The two sang out together, both THOROUGHLY sauced, waving their cups about in the air, the bottle now QUITE empty.

"We're not unreasonable! I mean, no one's gonna eat your eyes!" Fluttershy hiccupped out, bubbles flying out from her mouth as she giggled slightly.

"ALL WE WANNA DO IS EAT YOUR BRAINS!"

"We're at an impasse here! Maybe we can compromise!" Neh-Buh-Loh sang, grinning stupidly down at the Pegasus pony, rubbing the top of her head with his hand before the two finished their little ditty.

"Open up the door! WE'LL ALL COME INSIDE AND EAT YOUR BRAAAAAINS! Ha-ha-ha-ha-hahahahahaha!" They burst out into raucous laughter, sides shaking as they flopped to the ground, hooting and hollering as Fluttershy wiped a tear from her eye.

"Ohhh, that was good..." She murmured cheerily. "That felt NICE."

"Yes, a liquid continental breakfast."

"Maybe the continent of Equistris!"

"What?"

"It's a continent that SANK." Fluttershy giggled before flopping onto his lap, her face red as he and she began to chuckle more, the two acting like little vibrating chairs as somewhere, miles away, Pinkie Pie stiffened and glanced about.

"My pinkie sense is tingling! Somebody's stealing MY bit..." She murmured.

"We're drunk as a skunk! " Fluttershy realized aloud.

"Fluttershy, I am not as think as you drunk I yam-HIC!" The Huntsman hiccupped out before flopping onto the ground, laughing a bit before taking in a few deep, long breaths. "Just gonna lie down here for a minute..." He mumbled out.

"Yeah, that...seems...niiiiice..." Fluttershy murmured, snuggling up against him. "...y'know...I think I might...that is..."

The two leaned in close. Closer...

"...you're...I mean..."

"And you're..." He murmured back.

Touching now.

Deep. Very deep.

"...I..."

"...yeah?"

"...I...think I..."

...

...

...

...None of them had seen it. But as they laid in each other's arms, the deed done, stuck in a coma from their expression of comfort and trust and love, the closed-up opening to the cave began to ever-so-slightly shake, a single eye peering in.

"Peeeeek-a-boooo..." Queen Chrysalis whispered darkly.

...

...

...

...the Huntsman awoke to find himself tied to a stake, surrounded on all sides by Changelings as Fluttershy was trapped in a cage nearby, guards on all sides. The Queen was grinning foully at him, looking like some sick, twisted thing that the Heavens had found under a rock and not had the courage to stuff back inside. "You have noooo idea how long I waited for this moment." She growled out. "I remember the day you came. The day you wiped out half my forces."

"Well if you hadn't tried to attack me and make use of me, your species might not have suffered so." The Huntsman remarked, trying to snap the bonds tying him to the stake before he realized they were harshly cutting into his wrists. He frowned, glancing back as best he could before glaring in the Changeling Queen's direction, eyes like pale blue fires. The amulet. She'd magicked up magical bracelets to keep him tied down. "A plan you STILL mean to put in place, I take it?"

"Oh, ABSOLUTELY." The Queen cackled, throwing her head back and laughing madly. "I mean, a living galaxy? I can't even begin to imagine how much adoration and love those within you must feel for you! How many followers do you have? Thousands? Tens of thousands?"

"192 Billion, 274 million, 529 thousand and 32. Over a hundred planets worth." The Huntsman remarked calmly. "But that love is for ME, not you. You can't make them love you. Or did you think that somehow making ME love YOU would transfer some hint of that power?"

"Oh, but you see, I'm going to walk among them AS you." She intoned, putting a holey hoof on her chest, showing off a toothy grin as her form began to shift and change, now she was HIM, a towering male figure that was rising up on her feet. She took a few nervous steps about before dusting herself off, smirking proudly at him. "You think it strange I can go two-legged? You control much like a minotaur. My race hasn't JUST imitated ponies. And with this Alicorn Amulet I will be able to enter and exit you freely, coming and going as I please, taking their love for you and feeding off of YOUR despair as a nice DESSERT." The queen roared out, laughing maniacally, head thrown back as the Huntsman darkly glowered at her.

"You will die HORRIFICALLY for this." He promised coldly.

"And who's gonna stop me? Your little pony? No, I don't think so. This isn't like the last time her and her friends ruined my plans. All she can do is watch and my changelings will drink in her fear and terror every waking hour of every day as I take everything precious from you." The queen said with her stolen face before gripping his shoulders and smiling insanely. "OPEN UP!"

With that she shoved herself headfirst into his body, practically leaping in as if she was diving into a pool, the Huntsman shuddering in disgust. It felt like he was being violated, having this...THING stuck into him against his will. Disgusting. The Changelings all around him hollered and hissed in triumph, waving their spears high, others slamming their hooves on the ground in a drumming sensation of victory whilst Fluttershy glanced around. She had to get out of the cage. She needed something...

Wait. She remembered what the Huntsman had said. How he could take offerings from others, that THAT would be easiest to pull out of himself. She glanced over at him through the bony, dark black cage, raising her eyebrows up.

"Have the Illithids sent up any offerings lately?" She asked innocuously, the Huntsman's eyes widening as he realized what she meant. Ohhh, you clever girl.

"Why, let me think about that." Neh-Buh-Loh murmured aloud, closing his eyes, concentrating...concentrating. No, not from that planet...not that one. No, he needed something that could smash through magical bonds. Something potent and powerful and-

Wait.

Theeeerrreee.

His throat bulged a bit and he coughed slightly, spitting a bit before throwing his head up in the air and letting out a loud, throaty HA-HAAACK, spitting out an enormous sword. The blade shot out from his mouth, flying up...up...

And then swiftly falling back down, the Huntsman moving his hands into position as the blade SLAMMED down, luckily, right through his bonds-

And unfortunately right through his wrists.

"OWWWW! FUCK!" He roared out, his arms shooting up, grabbing the stake he'd been tied to and batting the guards around Fluttershy's cage away, blowing away an entrance for her to escape from. He rubbed his sore and bleeding wrists, Fluttershy gently embracing his chest as best she could.

"Let's get out of here."

"You're not going anywhere!" A captain of Changeling guard roared out, the Changelings that had been momentarily stunned by the display before them now leaping at them, spears held high, fangs bared, roaring and snarling as the Huntsman glanced at Fluttershy. This...could get ugly.

Luckily he realized there was something else he had easy access too which could keep all these Changelings at bay.

"Duck underneath me." He insisted, whipping his head up as Fluttershy wrapped her arms around his legs, cringing as his mouth opened and out they came! Pouring out, shooting forth like a geyser, slamming into the changelings that were trying to assault him. They burst forth, piling down the changelings into the ground...POGS! A neverending rain of pogs, pogs, POOOOGS!

An entire planet worth of pogs!

At long last, the onslaught ended and the Pegasus slowly opened her eyes...to behold the pogs.

"By Celestia's mane..." Fluttershy whispered at the horrific scene. "...the horror. The HORROR...nobody should be exposed to that many pogs!"

The Changelings moaned in agony, the entire immediate area buried under mountains upon mountains of pogs, struggling in desperation to crawl out, hacking and spluttering. "MY EYES! MY EYES!" Somebody was screeching, the Huntsman dusting himself off as he "hmmed", looking the scene over.

"...I think I might like pogs a bit more now." He admitted. "But I must still contend with Chrysalis. She's inside of me, no doubt trying to soak in the love of my followers...gaining even more strength."

"I don't suppose you could, y'know...go deep inside yourself?" Fluttershy reasoned. "Literally?"

"Unfortunately that would make me implode." The Huntsman surmised as he cringed, shaking his head back and forth. "But we're not too far from Ponyville. Your friends...they have defeated Chrysalis before, correct?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I don't like fighting...but she's gone too far. She has to be stopped. She's powerful with that amulet...but we've got something greater than that. Something she can never have. You're sure you can...handle what we might unleash when we go into you?"

Neh-Buh-Loh smiled. "Fluttershy...I want you and your friends inside me."

...

...

...

...the sun was high in the midday sky, casting a soft, odd, reddish tint over the town. Blue grass beneath their hooves and even deeper blue leaves on the light brown trees greeted their sight as our beloved protagonists made their way across the field towards the far-off town. It had been...unusual, to say the least, going inside the Huntsman directly through his chest. Like trying to walk into a mirror made of water. Yet through great effort they'd been directed here, to a planet that had "humans", as the Huntsman had insisted, guided by Alice to her homeland. Her hometown, in fact.

It wasn't too hard to figure out the place worshipped the Huntsman. When you have a big, giant statue of yourself, it becomes very easy to see the people adore you. And a giant GOLD statue, no less, holding aloft his spear above his head, pointing at the heavens.

Guess who was standing atop it?

"Ohhh, this is delicious..." The disguised Queen Chrysalis proclaimed, stretching her stolen arms wide, drinking in the people's love. "Absolutely wonderful! It's like a fine wine. I've never experienced this much love!"

"Woooo!I want your coooock!" Somebody in the immense crowd below screamed out, a woman hopping up and down as others held up signs that read "Welcome", "You Can Hunt Me Anytime" and "Hallejuah". And, inexplicably, one that said "Rack City" for some strange reason.

"Wait until the Queen hears about this." One of the crowd members admitted, Chrysalis almost giving away the game, about to speak up before she wisely stopped herself. She was slightly confused...why was everyone only wearing white and red in this town? No blues? A shame. Changelings _ loved _ the color blue.

"We need more blue in this town." She intoned, holding a hand up high, all the crowd nodding in agreement.

"Oh, absolutely! We can do that!" The apparent mayor admitted, adjusting the monocle. "We were celebrating the day the White Army finally won the great war, but now we can turn this day into an even greater celebration with you here, our Lord and Savior!" He proclaimed, holding his flabby hands high.

"And I gotta say... wow. You're too sexy for a shirt." Another human in the crowd admitted, the girls and Spike hiding in a nearby alleyway, Alice's spectral form hovering just overhead as she poked her head out from the alley with the rest of them.

"The Huntsman wanted to ask. Why DO none of you guys wear, y'know, clothes? Like, on a daily basis?" Alice asked of the girls as they glanced around at each other.

"Well, y'know, they're only for those special occasions, my dear." Rarity insisted, putting a hoof on her chest. "True beauty doesn't have to come from fancy clothing. Such attire should AMPLIFY your natural radiance."

"But I'm always wearin' this here hat. My parents gave it to me before they died in an accident with a well." Applejack added, pointing at her hat. "Ya gotta hold onto the things that you love. Not ever really let 'em go."

"The Huntsman does truly love the worlds inside him. If he didn't, he'd just let himself die. We need to keep these people safe and beat this fraud." Alice insisted. "My home's gotten quite better since the my patron won. I'm not letting ANOTHER psychotic queen take over. OFF WITH HER HEAD."

"You might have a good point." Twilight muttered. "...I've never forgiven her for what she did to my childhood friend, my dearest Cadenza...and to my brother. And to us!"

"Let's make her huuuuurt." Rainbow Dash proclaimed, and with that, they strode out of the alleyway. "YO! FRAUD!"

Everyone glanced in their direction, Fluttershy stepping forward and frowning at the imposter Huntsman. "You know, Queen Chrysalis, lying isn't very nice. So now we're not going to be very nice either."

"Are...are those ponies?" One of the humans asked.

"A baby dragon?" Another inquired, looking at Spike as he nonchalantly waved back.

"Awwwwww! They're so cuuuuute!"

"D'awwww, lookit their little hooves, and their little snouts!"

"What lovely pastel ponies!"

"They are my enemy, my children. The Darkness hides in a shape that appeals to you so it can get close to you. Worm its way into your trust." Queen Chrysalis said with her false face, curling her hands up and clenching them into fists. "They are YOUR enemy as well."

"SHE'S the enemy. She's an imposter pretending to be the Huntsman." Twilight Sparkle began to say.

"Oh, please. You can't prove anything. You're just trying to confuse and lie to my beloved." The "Huntsman" remarked with a dismissive wave of his hand, hopping down from the statue and walking along the red brick road, bowing his head at every human he passed. "They know I'm who I say I am. All they know is some weird talking ponies showed up and are saying crazy things."

"If you're really the Huntsman..." Alice proclaimed, stepping out from the alleyway, her ghostly form now more physically visible as she pointed an accusatory finger at Chrysalis. "Then you'll know me."

Everyone gasped. Blond hair. The blue and white attire. The eyes. Yes, yes it was her. HER. The Savior! The one that had willingly given herself to the Huntsman so long ago. The one who'd defied the Red Tyrant that had ravaged their home! "Alice! Dear ALICE! The one from the stories!" The Mayor gasped out, crossing himself in awe.

"What's...my last name?" Alice asked of the pretender, the false queen.

"It's...um..." Chrysalis paled. Oh crap. OH crap. Everyone clearly knew who this person was, obviously she was someone of import from the gasps and murmurs that had arisen from this phantom that now stood by the ponies, arms folded across her chest. Alice raised an eyebrow up, a small smirk on her pretty little features.

"The time has come, Queen Chrysalis, to talk of many things." Alice growled out. "...just kidding. Time for talk is over. Girls? GET HER."

"Damn you!" The Queen roared out, green fire consuming her body, her TRUE form manifesting as all the humans bolted away, immediately hiding behind red, curvy benches, street lights, white post office boxes and doorways to butcheries, bakeries and candlestick-makeries. "Now I'll just have to raze you and this town to the ground! NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW."

"Scatter! Don't let her hit you!" Twilight yelled out, the group barreling away from the Queen as her body was enveloped in that foul miasma of red sickly light, blasting away at them as she cackled insanely. The beams of burning red shot past their bodies, Rainbow Dash swooping up into the air as Fluttershy quickly hid behind a bench, sitting next to a young boy with a lovely red t-shirt. She held up a hoof and he took it in his hands, shaking it.

"Fluttershy." She said.

"Abe. It's short for "Absalom"."

"Aww, that's a lovely name!" Fluttershy remarked as Rainbow Dash kicked Chrysalis in the face with her hooves, barreling down on her.

"Death from above!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed, flying off as Chrysalis staggered about, then fired at the bench Fluttershy and Absalom were hiding behind. Fluttershy "eeped" the bench went soaring up through the air and slamming into Rainbow Dash, knocking her through the air and into a roof.

"MY CABBAGES!" The grocery store owner screamed out, Spike turning to Alice as he and she and the mayor hid in an alleyway nearby.

"You humans got anything that burns really quick?"

"Gasoline. It's a fuel. It lights up like tinder." The mayor admitted. "Why?"

"If we could lure here into a puddle of THAT..." Alice mused aloud. "Mayor, I can't really hold onto anything physical. I'm just a spirit now. But can you and the townsfolk get gas together with Spike? I'll let the girls know of our plan. It's time we BURNT THIS WITCH." She said, racing off to find Fluttershy first.

Rarity concentrated, her horn glowing as she let loose a burst of light, popping out in front of Chrysalis, who glowered under the glare. She grunted a bit, rushing forward, slamming into Rarity as her horn glistened and she began to rise up into the air, now FLYING fully. "HAHAHAHAHA! Let's see you try to stop me now!" She roared out, red tendrils rising from her body like sickening hands seeking to ensnare anyone that came near.

"How disgusting..." Rarity muttered, panting slightly as the Queen opened her mouth, horrific blackish/red energy coalescing around it before Twilight shot forward, grabbing Rarity and rolling out of the way, Alice going to her side as Twilight hovered in the air on HER wings as her horn glistened brightly.

"I'm an alicorn now...a princess! And I'm going to stop you!" She proclaimed, a burst of purplish/white light twisting out from her horn, forming a powerful beam of magical might. Chrysalis opened her maw again, her own beam striking into it, the two trying to force the other back as Alice spoke in hushed tones to Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash by the nearby bakery. But even with Twilight's new power, the queen had been drinking in enormous amounts of love, and was now heavily amplified by the Alicorn Amulet. Her eyes glowed like foul, reddish coals in the dark of night, her beam of power beginning to OVERpower Twilight's...

And then THRAKKA-THROOOM! With a crash like lightning, Twilight was sent spiraling into a light pole, the queen smirking darkly as she advanced, the red tendrils lashing down into the ground, holding up a chunk to crush Twilight's head in.

Luckily she didn't get a chance to use it, Applejack kicked a mailbox at her as it bounced off her head, making her reel and she whipped her head about, tossing the chunk of road at the pony. Applejack shattered it with a high kick, only for the tendrils to keep tossing pieces of road at her, Applejack struggling in vain to dodge them all, only to be battered and beaten as Chrysalis cackled like a mad hyena. "I could do this all day! In fact, I think I will!"

"That's enough of that!" Pinkie Pie proclaimed, Chrysalis whipping her head around to see Pinkie Pie was now standing atop a roof, a sawn-thrown-the-pillars sign advertising an internet service at the ready that was large, heavy, and ready to drop.

"What the buck?!" Chrysalis muttered as the sign plummeted down towards her.

"Yahoooooo-oooooooooo!"

SHAKKA-THOOOM! It crashed into her, Pinkie Pie holding up a horn and blowing through it in triumph. "Ding-dong, the witch is dead! Which old witch? The wicked old-"

The sign was blown into pieces, Chrysalis standing atop the tatters as Pinkie Pie "eeped", dropping the horn on the rooftop and gaping in surprise as Chrysalis's tone became demonic and foul. "All of you will die a horrible, painful death as I skin you alive and suck the marrow from-"

BOP. A single whack to her rear made her turn around and she saw Fluttershy standing there, hoof held up.

"No. Touchy." The Pegasus growled, bobbing Chrysalis in the face before racing off down an alleyway. The mere idea that this pathetic pony had the audacity to whack her on the butt and then right in the face with her own hooves...the sheer gall made Chrysalis fume. That and the fact she was dear to the Huntsman...ohhh yes. She'd die first. The queen of the Changelings barreled after her, fuming, smoke almost billowing out of her nostrils, the Alicorn Amulet working overtime as she bolted down the alleyway.

What was that smell? Ugh, was there some kind of leaking of vinegar or something from the nearby restaurant? What was that stench? Was she...

She glanced about. She was now at the end of the alleyway, in an open cul-de-sac, an enormous pool of...something odd around her. Why did it smell so foul and-

She then saw him standing there by the sidewalk with the girls all quickly taking up circular positions around her, the townsfolk standing by Alice, holding aloft recently-emptied jugs and cartons of some odd thing. Spike slowly opened his mouth, green flame building as Fluttershy glared darkly at the Queen.

"You hurt. My friends." She whispered. "...nobody. Hurts. My friends."

And with that, Spike's flaming breath shot forward, spreading through the spilled out gas as it enveloped Chrysalis and she shrieked and howled, screaming like a banshee. She wailed in agony, her body feeling as though it was on fire, flopping about like a fish out of water, the girls all cringing. Actually SEEING what was happening was...they'd known it was gonna be bad, but not this bad...

"...we need to end this." Twilight said, hovering out the Elements of Harmony as they wrapped around their necks, their heads, glistening in the sunlight, becoming alit with power. "...one...two...THREE!"

At once they activated the Elements, rainbow beams of light cascading forth, slamming into the spasming Chrysalis as the Alicorn Amulet found it too much to bear, and it shattered into pieces, the flames dissipating as Chrysalis flopped to the ground, her body ravaged, her spirit broken...helpless. Utterly helpless.

...and they knew...it would be time for judgment.

THE QUEEN IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

"Words can't express how much trouble you're in, Chrysalis." Pinkie Pie proclaimed as they stood before the tied-up Chrysalis in Ponyville, its citizens standing by Princess Celestia and Luna, the royal sisters solemn and firm in their gaze. "...so I will attempt to express it through INTEPRETIVE DANCE!" She added, doing a few pirouettes on the spot, leaping about before finally halting in place at seeing her friends shake their heads back and forth. "Okay. Maybe later."

"You've committed unforgivable crimes against my little ponies. My kingdom. My beloved student. You attempted to murder innocents and claim entire worlds. You stole that which didn't belong to you and have shown no regret nor remorse for what you've done." Princess Celestia intoned, reading off the charges from a scroll that Spike held up as Fluttershy stood near the Huntsman, the alien hunter glaring down at Chrysalis from her side. "...have you anything to say in your defense?"

"I did what I did for my people."

"You could have just buckin' ASKED." Applejack snapped. "If y'all really wanted to help yer kind so badly, ya shoulda just asked the Princesses for help with your race and they woulda tried to work something out. You went straight fer the kidnappin' and the brainwashin' and killin' and enslavin' ya lying sack of bull-"

"SHH." Twilight hushed her, turning to the Huntsman. "Neh-Buh-Loh, son of Ohr'ion the Hunter. Last of the Cosmo Sapiens, you've been given the right to pass judgment on her. What is her sentence?"

"I think she looks good enough to eat." He growled darkly, lifting her up into the air by the neck, eyes turning narrow and cold. Holding her high, he opened his mouth in a gape and shoved her down, engulfing much of the Changeling Queen's butt. She gasped, immediately squirming to break free. But in her tied sluggish state, all she achieved was making it more enjoyable for her destroyer. He shoved her down, clawed hands atop her head and deeper she went, his tongue feeling over his lower regions, licking at it briefly before giving another shove. Now Chrysalis's legs were pushed up against her body, her behind sliding down the Huntsman's throat. As he kept licking at her, she let out a moan, trying not to become aroused, but...her genitals were beginning to become wet. It was oddly erotic, and she simply couldn't resist. The Changeling Queen felt a bit of subtle precum come forth at first, then pressure rose below. She grimaced inwardly, knowing she was giving into pleasure like THIS. Being prey! Being humiliated!

But her body gave in, regardless. With a cry, her pussy juices shot out, drenching her underside and leaking out of the alien hunter's mouth. A good lubricant...and rather tasty. It would help wash her down. Changelings often tasted quite bitter, but she had a bit more meat to her, more substance. A dark, exotic taste that brought forth lovely rumblings from his gut. Chrysalis now essentially gave up, giving fewer struggles, letting the Huntsman easily down her rear side as he now began working on the toughest part, her furry belly. Good thing it was so well lubed, her juices allow the Huntsman to practically slide the queen in. He passed her midsection and stood tall, arching his head back. The majority of Chrysalis's weight was inside him now, and he didn't even have to push anymore. She fell down her throat up until her front legs, which he guided calmly in, Chrysalis's rear beginning begun to enter his stomach. The Huntsman placed a hand on his slightly bulging belly, rubbing it as it expands to its newest meal.

The townsfolk watched, taking this in, the captured Changeling troops also tied up and subdued as Luna gave them a glance. They all had to watch this. They had to understand this was serious, this was the fair punishment for one who'd done so much cruelty and evil. They couldn't just pretend it wasn't happening or put it out of their minds. It would take some time to try and find a way for the Changelings to co-exist with Equestria...but with Chrysalis gone, perhaps some real good could be done. There was always hope...

But there'd be none for Queen Chrysalis.

Another gulp, and all that was left were two hooves and her head. A whimper sounded from the queen as the Huntsman swallows again, her chin entering her mouth. Her horn was next, and the alien grabbed it, gently pushing it in as Chrysalis took a final look at the outside world before...GULP. Her face now deep in his throat, her hooves sliding in due to gravity as the esophagus did the last bit of work for the Huntsman. With a hand on his neck, he followed the queen's descent to her paunch, feeling her flow down his chest to it's final destination. He rubbed his enormous belly, feeling every curve of her form, claws stroking over it as his stomach massaged his meal. In a final act, he belched, releasing whatever air supply Chrysalis had, intending to knock her out.

"Filling." He admitted, turning to the Princesses and giving a nod. "She got the fate she deserved." He intoned before turning to the Changelings. "...now I'LL be your leader."

Fluttershy blinked in surprise. "...what?"

"I took their queen from them. They need guidance. Someone who understands the needs of a more predatorial species." He informed her and the ponies present, walking in front of the Changelings. "I will teach you what I know. I will be your monarch. I'll make sure your race is kept safe from harm and not exploited or slaughtered for what you did in the past. But YOU will have to learn to be kinder to your prey. More understanding. More empathetic."

He turned back to the Princesses. "I'll make sure they don't go attacking innocent cities and towns. Is that acceptable?"

"I believe you would be a suitable ruler." Princess Celestia admitted with a firm nod. "...if any of you Changelings object, I suggest you do so now."

"...what would be the point? We can't beat him." One of the Changelings muttered. "...and he can't possibly be as demanding as the queen was. She did kinda throw things at our heads when she got mad."

"If it means people will stop bringing in our skins as proof of a bounty, fine by me." Another added as the Huntsman turned to Fluttershy.

"...Fluttershy..." He murmured. "...I...that is...I want you to know that..."

"I'll wait for you." She admitted. "Wait until they've...well...cleaned up a bit. I don't mind."

He smiled at this, turning away, undoing the bonds to Changeling after Changeling as he and they began to make their way down the road... glancing momentarily back. Their eyes met again...

"...I'm trusting in you. For its sake."

Fluttershy smiled slightly. She knew what he meant.

...

...

...

... "Why are we out here? I thought you said the Changelings have a bad reputation."

"You don't have to be scared." Fluttershy said, letting the tyke ride atop her back, a soft wind blowing through the little one's mane as he nervously clutched around her neck. "It's been five years, they've gotten much nicer."

"How come?" He wanted to know, pale blue eyes blinking in confusion as he joined the rest of the delegation meeting with the Changelings and their new monarch, Twilight standing tall and proud as she caught side of the figure leading the large black horde towards Ponyville. They carried enormous, light blue banners that fluttered back and forth in the wind with armor of pale silver that shone brightly, a fine match for the soft blue of their leader's eyes as he halted in place...and beheld the dark-furred little one atop Fluttershy's back.

He smiled.

"Come on, Junior. I want you to say hi to your daddy." Fluttershy intoned.

ROYAL TREATMENT

Twilight hushed Applejack, turning to the Huntsman. "Neh-Buh-Loh, son of Ohr'ion the Hunter. Last of the Cosmo Sapiens, you've been given the right to pass judgment on her. What is her sentence?"

The Huntsman thoughtfully rubbed his chin, looking the queen over before giving a firm nod. "I think you might be able to be of some use..." He muttered. "I intend to dispose of her in a very...unfamily-friendly way. Those who have children present should take the little ones out of here." He suggested, the little dibbuns of the town being led off as the Queen's eyes widened, realizing what he was intending to do.

"Oh no-no-no-"

"Oh, I'm afraid so." He remarked quietly, his manhood emerging as he stroked it and pushed her muzzle up against the emerging, pulsing cockflesh. She could feel a faint suction, his manhood pulling her inwards and with tiny slurping "pop" her head squeezed into the tight and slick passage, a muffled squeak escaping her at the feeling. The Huntsman's thick, potent limb now bulged at the tip where her head was forced into the slick tight tube. More of Chrysalis body was sinking in, the tip of his cock now grossly distended as she was forcefully fed into it by his clawed hands. The cum slit to widen further, it's tightly stretched lips beginning to nibble at her shoulders. "I can see how you fill me, Chrysalis. Ohhhh. It feels so...so good. You have no idea how wonderful it feels, I NEED you in there."

Her head and neck were now completely engulfed in deep black flesh, slick from his pre, basking in the heat as he pulsed around her...and he wanted more. Much more. The sensation was gripping her shoulders, increasing warmth overwhelming her, sinking in deeper. Now Chrysalis's upper body was beginning to go inside his manhood. His member was almost grossly distended with her head and shoulders now, her body's outline shown on the underside against the thick cum tube into which she was now being wormed into. Indeed, her upper body was now sliding smoothly in, her chest began to slide past his penis's lips, sinking further into the slick hot confines of his member, which telegraphs his every shudder and her every gentle movement forward, right across her body. The Huntsman smiled in delight...he was eating her with his cock, swallowing her whole as the barbs along its length splay outward with the bulging form inside it.

Soon she was emptying out from his cock to his balls, her back legs sliding in along with her belly, the Huntsman shuddering in delight. He let out an erotic, aroused moan, more of her form entering his manhood. He gripped her behind, giving a firm push, sending her fully inside as she began to sink down, down into a deep pool...her final resting place. Now she would become his seed, being sent into the churning pool of cum with a splash, sniffing the odd substance as it tickled her skin. "Wh-what...what's this?" The liquid was quite warm and tasted very good, the walls pulsating around her, forcing her to sink deeper into the pool as she realized just what it was.

"It's a kinder fate than what you deserve, to an extent." The Huntsman admitted as her body began to heat up slowly, an erotic sensation rising in her as she began to painlessly melt away into the pool, every bit of her body beginning to be converted into potent seed. She erupted again and again, letting out a passionate moan before sinking beneath the waves of seed, joining with it completely as his sack bulged with her sacrifice. Where once had been bulges were now two perfect spheres which he rubbed happily, showing off wonderful assets as Fluttershy approached, stroking them in awe. "Fluttershy...I would like to love you properly." He admitted. "Would you become my wife? Help me lead the Changelings into a better tomorrow."

She smiled. "You know...that doesn't sound so bad at all. They need help."

"And you've got lots of love to give. And I've much to give to you." He added with a small chuckle, lifting her up into his arms.

"Get them to the church on time!" Pinkie Pie proclaimed dramatically, pointing upward.

"Church? My dear Pinkamena Pie, as ruler of Equestria and its head of state, I can do the ceremony right here..." Celestia said with a small twinkle in her eye. "And I see no reason these two should not be married. If anybody has an objection, speak now, or forever hold your peace."

"WAIT!" Twilight spoke up. "Pinkie...a photo first of the soon-to-be-newlyweds with her best friends?" She asked of Pinkie Pie, who smiled and pulled out a camera.

"Everybody say "Cheese Sandwich"!"

...

...

...

... "Wow. Dad had a really goofy smile back then." Christabella remarked, the long-haired pony remarking as she sat on the couch, Fluttershy putting one arm around her and the other hoof holding up the photo album as Neh-Buh-Loh sat with little Junior just to her right, pointing with a claw.

"And there's Aunty Twilight. She became a most wise and just ruler indeed. It's good that the Princesses established that someone didn't HAVE to marry just to become queen. After all, a prince doesn't need to marry to become king." Neh-Buh-Loh remarked. "And Spike...I really should find out how Spike is doing."

"I've heard he's working quite closely with the dragons." Fluttershy admitted. "...I'm still kinda nervous around them, though. Never quite got over my fear." She admitted as they turned the photo album over.

"Why are you at a cave?" Junior asked as he looked at his mother, "Chrissy" glancing up at her dad.

Fluttershy blushed, the Huntsman clearing his throat. "Well, uh...you see...um...we spent a night in a cave hiding from someone very awful. Fluttershy gave me her warmth, her caring..." The Cosmo Sapien murmured softly, his tone becoming thoughtful and contemplative. "I was nervous...even slightly afraid of what I could do, and...a little of myself. Now when I'm with her, I think of that night, and I feel the courage she gave me. She helped me to grow that day..." He whispered, caressing her mane, smiling softly at her. "...it's funny what a little Kindness does."

It wasn't a perfect life. There was still his...needs...to deal with. And the Changelings sometimes slipped up. Sometimes were caught taking advantage of ponies and other races. And sometimes the kids could wear on them.

...but it didn't have to be perfect. It just had to be theirs.

It was a good life.

...and wasn't that what anybody really wanted, in the end? A good life? And Neh-Buh-Loh had that now, thanks to her. And she had one too, thanks to him.

And they couldn't wait to see what else the future might hold.